Joe Calzaghe Announces Boxing Masterclass

[Moschino045]

Well, they are the #1 contenders for the world title. There are usually no more than 15 different names that make up the top 10 of all the four sanctioning bodies - the lists are always very similar and it really doesn't matter what letters are on your belt as long as you fight good fighters Joe has fought 11 number-one contenders (Veit twice, and Veit hasn't lost elsewhere), the other five of the 17 defences were the only guys willing to fight him.

Branko Sobot, Will McIntyre, Miguel Angel Jiminez and Tocker Pudwill are probably the worst he's fought out of the 17 and they were all late replacements for Thomas Tate (Joe wanted to be the first man to stop Tate since Roy Jones Jr) - not number-one contenders. Mger Mkrtchian beat WBO NABO champ Freeman Barr in an eliminator, Kabary Salem was the number-two contender when Mario Veit said he needed more time to get ready for a Calzaghe rematch, and Don King made Evans Ashira number-one contender because Don King can do anything he wants (no fault of Joe's).

That's 10 official number-one contenders - the experienced Juan Carlos Giminez (went the distance with Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank and Roberto Duran), former Olympic medalist and WBC champ Robin Reid (beat him with hand injuries), Rick Thornberry (beat him with hand injuries), Dave Starie (ABA 156 champ in 1993 that Joe won year previous and while Joe was ABA 165 champ, ABA 165 champ in 1994 that Joe won year previous, made debut on Lennox undercard like Joe did year previous, later robbed against Sven Ottke, Calzaghe beat him with hand injuries), Omar Sheika (very good fighter back then, later gave Lacy hell, Joe finally showing his 1996/97 form again with hand injuries behind him), former Olympic medalist and WBC champ Richie Woodhall (Joe finally showing his 1996/97 form again with hand injuries behind him, first man to beat him fair and square since Roy Jones Jr in Olympic semi-final), 30-0 Mario Veit (beat Markus Beyer five times in amateurs), former IBF champ Charles Brewer (brutalised Antwun Echols but got robbed - 99 out of 100 referee's would of stopped it in favor of Brewer in second round, 99 out of 100 referee's wouldn't of stopped in favor of Echols in third round, Echols gave Hopkins hell, Brewer robbed against Sven Ottke but Joe beat him up), former WBA champ Byron Mitchell (beat Jeff Lacy in one round at 1996 Golden Gloves, 90 KO's in amateurs, beat Frankie Liles to become Lineal champ, Mitchell robbed against Sven Ottke but Joe beat him up).

Also throw in top prospect Mark Delaney, KO1 against Frank Minton (who had been in with six former or future world champions), Joe C fought a cruiserweight in just his tenth pro fight (Bobbie Joe Edwards, cousin of Chris Eubank), Joe C had 10 1st-round wins en route to his world title shot, and ofcourse Chris Eubank (former two-weight WBO champ, stopped Nigel Benn and Michael Watson, made 15 world title defences at 168, later winning every round against cruiserweight Carl Thompson in both fights before eye shut both times, Calzaghe the first man to ever legitimately floor Eubank and doing so with the first punch he threw!).

The only big name on his record is Chris Eubank, but that's not the only decent fighter he's fought (far from it).

****in hell, calm down abit bro. anyway his only decent defences have come against sheika, woodhall & veit 1. He went tooth & nail with Brewer in tough infight, Mitchell dropped his ass, salem dropped his ass, etc, he went the full 12 alot of times when he was realy disinterested & wasnt impressive

[Moschino045]

At the end of the day, the guy has 40 wins from 40 fights and is the ****ing longest-reigning world champion in boxing today. That demands respect.

He's beaten five former world champs - Eubank, Reid, Woodhall, Brewer, Mitchell.

He wasn't willing to go to Germany and fight Sven Ottke or Markus Beyer because he knew he risked being robbed, and can you blame him? Ottke and Beyer weren't willing to come to Cardiff, either. But Brewer and Mitchell were robbed against Ottke whereas Joe battered them. Richie Woodhall was robbed against Beyer whereas Joe battered him. Glenn Catley beat Beyer whereas Joe KTFO Catley in the 1992 ABA final. Mario Veit beat Beyer five times in the amateurs whereas Joe stopped Veit twice - once in one round and once in Germany (he went to Germany to fight Veit again because he was offered the biggest payday of his career).

Joe won three ABA titles at three different weights - 1991 at welter, 1992 at light-middle, 1993 at middle. He also has a stand-out win over Chris Byrd, becoming the first man to ever stop Byrd (just before Byrd turned pro).

If he beats Lacy, which is unlikely unless the fight happens at 175 (because Joe has really struggled to make 168 these last three or four years and it has taken his power away, he struggles more and more with each fight to make the 168 limit), but if he does beat Lacy then the guy is just.. awesome. If he moves up and beats Tarver, the guy is just awesome.

Say what you want about your boys Jones Jr and Hopkins, but you can't argue with the facts - Jones Jr has refused to fight Calzaghe for 10 years and Hopkins has refused to fight Calzaghe for five years.

i thought charles Brewer is the best he fought. Eubank wasnt at his best when they fought. yeah Brewer is the best he fought, & that was a close fight. if Brewer can give you so many probs, Hopkins & RJJ will make u look silly if they at their best.

[scap]

****in hell, calm down abit bro. anyway his only decent defences have come against sheika, woodhall & veit 1. He went tooth & nail with Brewer in tough infight, Mitchell dropped his ass, salem dropped his ass, etc, he went the full 12 alot of times when he was realy disinterested & wasnt impressive

There is nothing wrong with going tooth and nail with the version of Brewer Joe fought.

Keep in mind Antwun Echols (who Joe got **** for not fighting) could not go toe to toe with THE HATCHET for 1 minute without getting rocked and roughed up (truly one of the worst stoppages you will ever see)...Joe managed to do it for 12 full rounds.

[supaduck]

Sheesh, Lacy's record isn't anymore impressive than Calzaghes, but for some reason i'm sure Lacy's gonna win and be a huge success.

Unfortunately Lacy doesn't have that personality which attracts fans outside of boxing. Oh well.

[scap]

Sheesh, Lacy's record isn't anymore impressive than Calzaghes, but for some reason i'm sure Lacy's gonna win and be a huge success.

Unfortunately Lacy doesn't have that personality which attracts fans outside of boxing. Oh well.

I wouldnt go that far about Lacy's potential popularity...my wife already wants to squat on his spear and all she saw was 6 rounds of him against Sheika...go figure huh?

[oldgringo]

I wouldnt go that far about Lacy's potential popularity...my wife already wants to squat on his spear and all she saw was 6 rounds of him against Sheika...go figure huh?

Hahaha...

I think Lacy has a style and a look that will attract fans. Hell, he's already been in a commercial.

[JuicyJuice]

Hahaha...

I think Lacy has a style and a look that will attract fans. Hell, he's already been in a commercial.

Shame that Kessler, Froch, Brahmer and Bute would make him look ******, though.

[scap]

Shame that Kessler, Froch, Brahmer and Bute would make him look ******, though.

I cant speak for Kessler, Brute or Brahmer whoever the **** he is but I have seen a couple fights of Mr. Froch which completely exposes this post as trash.

Carl Froch would make Jeff Lacy look ****** huh...you realize your wrong right? He would make Lacy look ******? Let me get this straight Carl Froch right?

Ugly post my man ugly post.

[The Wire]

Shame that Kessler, Froch, Brahmer and Bute would make him look ******, though.

I hate to say this mate, but Lacy would ****ing murder Froch. Absolutely murder him. That Westerman would have beat him if only he could punch.

[supaduck]

Lacy TKO Froch 3